i'm so close to 200 reads :) thank you guys who are reading, it means a lot. i have a lot of hope for this story.
btw, i was listening to hey violet which was why i got inspired to write this. i love their songs so much.
chapter five: the morning after
Ava woke up the next morning early, feeling refreshed although she had went to bed at such an ungodly hour. She remembered the night very vividly, from meeting Luke and his favorite colour, to coming home and having Becca scream at her about what could've happened to a girl that late. (Ava had rolled her eyes at that, retorting something along the lines of maybe tell people not to hurt girls out late at night which only made Becca scream more at her.)
She stretched and yawned, a dazed smile on her face as she still felt giddy and slightly happy upon reminiscing a certain blonde-haired, blue eyed boy that made her feel like a bubbly sixteen year old again. She knew that it was rare that they'd ever bump into each other again, and albeit that fact made her heart sink a bit, she was satisfied enough knowing that she got the opportunity to meet Luke. She squealed frivolously and kicked at the sheets on her bed, wanting to possibly kick herself for being so easily affected by some boy who's first impression was rude and nymphomaniacal.
He probably wasn't even thinking of her, and he was probably already in the bed of another person.
Ava got up after having her moment of getting a grip, letting her bare feet fall to the ground. She was uncomfortable since she passed out right after getting lectured by Becca and didn't get a chance to remove her night clothes. She stood, pulling off her skinny jeans which made her chubby yet long legs look better and chucked them off to the side, doing the same with her sweater. She threw on an oversized shirt that advertised a cigarette brand she liked and went to the kitchen, exiting her room. She could hear the news channel playing (Fox News, no doubt, Becca loved making fun of it) as she walked throughout the hallway.
When she reached her destination in mind, she saw that Becca was on the black couch in their shared, small living room, staring intently at the T.V while eating Frosted Flakes. Ava ignored her presence from where she was by the kitchen cupboards and grabbed a ceramic bowl, pouring herself some cereal and milk, returning everything she didn't need when she was done. As she began to munch on some, she heard the raven haired girl behind her speak up.
"So what happened to you last night?" Becca asked, her back still facing Ava.
"Nothing, why?" Ava lied, shoving a spoonful of Cinnamon Toast Crunch into her mouth so that she wouldn't break into a smile and give it away. She stared down at the bowl in her hands to hide her expression as well.
"Well, that's bull," Becca remarked, turning around and staring at Ava. She squinted her eyes at her. "You don't usually wake up this early, and your shift doesn't start in at least a couple more hours."
"Maybe I just wanted to get an early start, okay? Jeez, you act like I can't change," Ava muttered in response, beginning to quickly gobble up her food at the mention of work.
She still had to wash her face, brush her teeth, apply makeup, pick out clothes - oh god; she was feeling sheer stress and panic suddenly. She definitely needed to visit her therapist this week, so she had that to look forward to. Becca's voice interrupted her worrying.
"Well, you're not exactly the most adaptable person, despite being a Gemini. You don't really like changing things. Maybe I read your horoscope wrong, but I'm pretty sure you're hiding something."
Ava rolled her eyes. Becca was an astrology freak, constantly checking and becoming paranoid, judging people off of their signs and basing her daily routine on her horoscope. Apparently, the reason they often fought was because Becca was a Virgo and Virgo and Gemini clash all wrong - something like that, Ava wasn't paying attention. Maybe, she wondered, she could find an astrology related reason as to why she had such a weird friend.
"Nothing happened last night, well at least nothing important. Just broken subway, you know the usual," she said nonchalantly to her roommate, placing her bowl in the sink.
"Okay, whatever. Just remember that I need you to double date with Calum and me, my co worker bailed, so you're the fill in."
Calum was Becca's "best friend", who was obviously very infatuated with her. They had been friends for ages, always hanging out and flirting - neither one admitting that they liked each other. Until Becca finally grew a pair and asked Calum out. They decided to make it a double date to make it less awkward, but Ava doubted that the two would even spare a glance to her and whoever her date was, once the lovebirds were together.
"Fine, but only because I've been waiting a while for one of you to make a move. This guy I'm stuck with better be fun," she replied, "Can I wear pajamas to the restaurant?"
-
Ava drummed her nails on the counter, staring blankly at the cash register. Her day had been utterly boring, and she never thought she'd say it, but she was practically praying for the double date to come and for her shift to end. She didn't need to attend her bartending job tonight since she had worked late last night, which made her stress decrease by a little. It wasn't much, but it was getting somewhere.
Her job has been dead at the comic book store, only a few geeks passing by but none of them buying anything. Her co-worker Michael was nearly drooling on the floor next to her feet, catching up on sleep while the boss smoked pot in the back room. She should've been grateful for her laid back circumstances and O.K paycheck, but she was beyond miserable.
She was about to follow Michael's lead and drop on the floor and take a nap when the entrance bell that hung above the glass door jingled, alerting her that a potential customer entered. She didn't get to see whoever walked in, but she hoped they would make it quick; just seventeen more minutes and helping at least one customer would mean her day of mediocrity was over and she could go home and get ready.
She glanced around and only saw the customer's hands rifling through the comic book options every now and then. She sighed, taking out her phone and beginning to scroll. Just fifteen more minutes of this torture.
After growing bored once more, she stuffed her phone back into her pocket and caught a glimpse of a familiar messy blonde head of hair. Her heart thumped in her chest. Could it be Luke? She didn't want to get her hopes up, but she couldn't deny that she wanted it to be him. She stared at him with zero shame, waiting for him to turn around. She almost jumped when he finally turned in her general direction, and saw his face.
It's him. Holy shit, it's him.
On instinct, her hands flew up to fix her messy and greasy hair that she never brushed since, in her mind, if it was short, you didn't need to do much with it. Of course, her logic was off, but when was it not?
Ava was about to sigh for the umpteenth time, only to be interrupted by a comic book slapping onto the counter. She glanced up and saw a tired seeming Luke Hemmings, who didn't even spare one glance at her. She frowned, but quickly covered it by scanning the comic book.
"Are you stalking me?" Luke questioned gruffly, silently admiring her through the locks of hair that fell in his eyes. He grinned when she rolled her eyes, blushing.
"You're the one who showed up at my job, buddy. Get your facts straight," she replied, cockiness in her tone. Luke liked it, confidence suited her. "Your comic will be $5.00, you nerd."
"Well, in all fairness, I didn't know that you worked here, Ava," he pointed out, taking out his wallet to pay for the comic book, "And I am not a nerd."
"Sure, whatever you say...nerd," Ava continued to taunt before changing the topic, "You get home alright?"
"Yup, you?"
"I got home fine, but my roommate had to give me a five hour lecture before I could go to bed. And now later tonight I have to go on some stupid double date thing."
Luke pouted at the sound of her on a date, double or not. In all honesty, he couldn't picture her with anyone else on a date, but himself. That was practical, right? He knew what boys out there were capable of and he didn't want a sweet girl like Ava to get hurt, that must be why he didn't want her to go.
Or maybe he was just jealous.
"A double-date?" Luke asked, shaking his head, "I think you should just bail. I mean, double dates are usually very awkward and weird so I, yeah, I wouldn't go."
Ava raised an eyebrow, a smirk on her lips, "Is that so? Hmm, I don't know. It could be fun and this guy could be pretty cool. The possibilities are endless."
She was teasing him, watching him as he cleared his throat and licked his lip, rubbing the nape of his neck. Luke knew it, too; she had a strong affect on him. He stuttered and stammered while she leaned closer towards him, almost tauntingly, cupping her hand around her ear to exaggerate her actions.
"Sorry, what was that?"
She wouldn't admit it, but how close she was to him made her nervous, and she could tell that it made him nervous. If one of them took one more step closer, they'd be kissing.
Not that she was thinking about kissing him.
"I am just saying," Luke squeaked out, uncomfortable with how weak Ava made him feel, especially since it was usually the other way around with other people, "G-guys, they, we suck! Okay, we suck. So I don't want you to get hurt, and, and stuff. You know?"
When she seemed pleased, Ava backed up, causing Luke to verbally let out a gigantic sigh of relief. His heart hammered against his ribs. His eyes flickered down to her lips subconsciously, before he stopped himself and realized he had things to do.
He checked the time, "I've really got to get going, see you around, Morrison."
Luke didn't want to leave, but he couldn't stay around much longer either. Him and her were barely friends, it'd be weird either way, though undoubtedly he wanted to spend more time with her and get to know her even more, like the other night.
Ask for my number, you idiot! Ava screamed in her head, but she simply waved a goodbye, "See you around, Hemmings."
Luke was about to walk out the door, when suddenly, a voice boomed from under the counter, scaring both him and Ava.
"Ask for her number, dummy!"
Ava blushed and threw Luke a sheepish smile, quick to kick Michael - who was still on the floor - harshly, causing him to wince in pain, but really, she was thankful that he shouted something out like that. Luke gave her a look like he was saying I'm not even gonna ask, but walked back to the counter, his cheeks reddening by the minute. They had switched numbers, punching it into each other's phones, before Luke really had to leave, his hand lingering on hers for a couple seconds as he handed her back her cell.
When Luke exited, Michael groaned from where he was on the floor, his head using a box as a pillow. "You have no idea how excruciating it was to listen to you two twatbags flirt, god, get a room."
"Oh, be quiet. We weren't flirting, we're just friends. And twatbag, really? Real, mature, Michael. Real mature."
"I could use a thank you for getting his number for you, you know. My genius doesn't deserve to be taken for granted, Ava," He said matter of factly, pushing himself up off the floor.
Ava kicked him again.
•••
this is probably the most i have ever written for a chapter, which is sad cause this is only 2047 (minus the authors notes) words, but anyways, ur welcome.
this was so bad i am sorry, and it's more of a filler/chapter that keeps the plot moving a bit faster, but i hope you enjoy. i am trying my best to make this cute, but i am not sure if it's even working. the double date is in the next chapter and i am 99.9% sure that all of you know what's going to happen there (or do you? hmmm we'll see.) (jk it's supposed to be predictable until i figure out a plot twist.)
(or maybe not and the plot twist will be that there is no plot twist) (idk my life is as big of a mess as this book is)
anyways, hope you enjoyed this piece of trash. my slfl show is in four days and aSHTON IS TURNING TWENTY TWO IN ONE DAY WHAT I REMEMBER WHEN HE JUST TURNED 19 BRB CRYING ANF OH JFC LUKE IS TURNING TWENTY I REMEMBER WHEN I GREETED HIM HAPPY 18TH BDAY ON TWITTER